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cnbc.com
Trump says war in Iran is going 'swimmingly' and 'should be ending pretty soon'
Trump says war in Iran is going 'swimmingly' and 'should be ending pretty soon'
cnbc.com
Asia markets open lower as fragile Middle East ceasefire tempers sentiment
Asia-Pacific markets open lower Friday as an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire tempered risk appetite, even after Wall Street closed at fresh record highs.
bbc.com
Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?
Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?
bbc.com
Rising value of Pokémon cards sparks smash and grab crime spree
Small shops across the UK are being targeted by thieves stealing collectibles worth thousands of pounds.
cnbc.com
Netflix stock sinks despite earnings beat, streamer says Reed Hastings to exit board
Netflix beat expectations for Q1 revenue and reported a big jump in earnings per share thanks in part to a termination fee related to its proposed WBD deal.
bbc.com
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to step down as chairman
Hastings set up the company in 1997, when it rented DVDs to customers and delivered by post.
theguardian.com
Senate Democrats move to stall Trump’s ‘absurd’ bid to install new Fed chair
Democratic lawmakers urged Republican leaders to postpone the confirmation hearing of Kevin WarshSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocrats have moved to stall Donald Trump’s effort to exert greater control over the US Federal Reserve, condemning the president’s “absurd” bid to install a new leader of the central bank while it is targeted with criminal investigations.Democratic lawmakers on the Senate banking committee urged its Republican leadership on Thursday to postpone the planned confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, the financial executive and former Fed governor Trump has nominated to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How could the Iran war affect fizzy drinks in the UK?
The BBC's Emma Simpson explains why fizzy drinks, salad and meat could be affected by the Gulf conflict.
cnbc.com
Quantum stocks on pace for a massive week after Nvidia debuts AI models to boost the tech
Hyperscalers Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft have been investing heavily in chips to power quantum computing
cnbc.com
Brent oil price near $100 again with U.S.-Iran talks uncertain and Hormuz still blocked
Just a few tankers are passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S. Navy blocks Iran's coast and Tehran threatens to retaliate against ships in the Gulf.
cnbc.com
Charles Schwab to launch direct bitcoin, ether trading to compete with Robinhood
Charles Schwab is rolling out crypto trading, allowing clients to buy bitcoin and ether in the coming weeks.
bbc.com
Europe has 'maybe six weeks of jet fuel left', energy boss warns
Flights could soon be cancelled if supplies from the Gulf remain blocked, says the International Energy Agency.
bbc.com
Is Trump meeting the moment for US conservatives?
The BBC asked the president's supporters about Iran, the economy and immigration at the largest conservative gathering in the country.
cnbc.com
TSMC and ASML post-earnings stock moves could be a sign of what's to come from chip companies
Two of the biggest chipmakers, TSMC and ASML, failed to catch major tail winds from strong earnings. It could be a bellwether for the chip industry as a whole.
theguardian.com
Next chief Simon Wolfson paid record £7.4m – and could get far more this year
‘Sustained outperformance’ merits pay rise, says company after it ups profit guidance to £1.2bn for year to January 2027The Next chief executive, Simon Wolfson, took home more than £7m last year, his highest ever pay package, and could be handed up to £9.27m this year after the retailer announced plans to increase his basic salary and bonuses.The listed company said it was increasing its pay deal for the long-term leader of the fashion and homewares retailer, which now controls a string of brands in the UK including Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Cath Kidston, Reiss and FatFace, as his remuneration was 30% below the average for FTSE 100 bosses. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
LIV and let die: golf rebels count cost of Saudi cutbacks and other sports fear worst | Matt Hughes
Public Investment Fund withdraws support for rebel tour and other sports could be hit too with Newcastle United uncertainThe reverberations of an unscheduled meeting of LIV Golf executives in New York this week have been felt way beyond their swanky offices in Hudson Yards, on the west side of Manhattan.A slowdown in Saudi Arabia’s lavish spending on sport, which is conservatively estimated to have cost the kingdom more than $10bn in the past five years, had been expected, but its Public Investment Fund’s withdrawal of financial support for the rebel tour – which was first mooted to LIV execs on Monday – has caused shockwaves throughout the wider industry. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
It will take more than £600m a year to boost UK industrial competitiveness | Nils Pratley
Bics fix accepts nose-bleed energy bills are a structural problem but pretends they are only an issue for a narrow section of industryIt is “bold action” to boost UK competitiveness, claimed the government. Not everybody shared that assessment of the British industrial competitiveness scheme (Bics), the long-awaited plan to cut electricity bills for UK manufacturers by up to 25% – or, at least, to cut them for a subset of firms that are aligned with the eight chosen sectors of the “modern” industrial strategy.“Gas intensive industries in the UK have been shamefully ignored by the government in this announcement – it’s a total disgrace,” said Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, banging the drum for the likes of ceramics-makers and brickmakers that aren’t deemed modern enough for support. Employer bodies mostly did the polite thing of welcoming government assistance of any form before using phrases such as “drop in the ocean”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why the UK is preparing for food shortages due to Iran war
The BBC's Emma Simpson explains why fizzy drinks, salad and meat could be affected by the Gulf conflict.
bbc.com
No issues with UK fuel supply, says Reeves
The chancellor was speaking at the end of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington.
cnbc.com
Retail traders pile into Allbirds after odd AI pivot. History shows it won't end well
This surge of speculative buying reflects a broader return of animal spirits among small traders.
theguardian.com
Europe has only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left owing to Iran war, says energy chief
There will be flight cancellations ‘soon’ if oil supplies are not restored in coming weeks, says head of IEABusiness live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesEurope has only six weeks of jet fuel left before shortages will hit because of the Iran war, according to the head of a global energy watchdog.Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said there would be flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies from the Middle East were not restored within the coming weeks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Metro Bank boss handed record £2.6m a year after slashing 1,000 jobs
Dan Frumkin’s pay package comes after bank’s near collapse and rescue by Colombian billionaireMetro Bank’s chief executive has been handed a £2.6m pay packet – the largest in its history – a year after slashing 1,000 jobs in response to the lender’s near collapse.The figure is more than double the £1.2m Dan Frumkin was paid in 2024. Metro pushed through the pay bump and complex bonus scheme for the former RBS and Northern Rock banker at a shareholder meeting last year. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Man used AI to make false statements to shut down London nightclub, police say
Heaven club neighbour admits offences under Licensing Act, as Met says fictitious AI-generated complaints a growing issue A businessman has pleaded guilty to making false statements in order to shut down a nightclub, which police believe were generated using AI.A Metropolitan police source said the use of AI to generate letters by complainants who do not exist is a growing issue. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What are the UK government’s plans to regulate social media for under-16s?
As Keir Starmer tells tech bosses to make their sites safer, ministers are weighing up what they can doStarmer tells social media firms: ‘Things can’t go on like this’Keir Starmer has told social media firms that “things can’t go on like this” in a meeting with tech bosses in Downing Street as pressure mounts for tougher restrictions on the industry.Ministers are considering imposing an under-16 age restriction on social media as well as other options to limit app use. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Social supermarket opens to cut food bills
The store, in Mablethorpe, buys surplus stock so it can keep prices low.
bbc.com
Cheaper Doritos and Lays helps PepsiCo win back struggling snackers
The snack giant cut some of its prices by up to 15% ahead of the Super Bowl in February.
cnbc.com
Anthropic rolls out Claude Opus 4.7, an AI model that is less risky than Mythos
Claude Mythos Preview is Anthropic's most powerful AI model that excels at identifying weaknesses and security flaws within software.
cnbc.com
European stocks end near flat as UK GDP jumps and Iran peace talks remain in focus
European stocks finished Thursday lower as investors assessed fresh economic data and the outlook for U.S Iran peace talks.
bbc.com
UK prepares for food shortages in worst case scenario as Iran war continues
The UK could face some food shortages by the summer under a worst case scenario drawn up by government officials.
bbc.com
DHL staff at Jaguar Land Rover vote to strike
Up to 300 DHL logistics workers based at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull vote to strike indefinitely.
cnbc.com
U.S. Navy stopped 13 ships from passing Iranian port blockade, Pentagon says
The U.S. has signaled optimism about the prospect of reaching a diplomatic end to the Iran war.
cnbc.com
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is preparing banks to collect citizenship data
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the Trump administration expects banks to comply in collecting citizenship information from customers.
cnbc.com
Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA warns
The International Energy Agency warned Thursday that Europe is going to run out of jet fuel in as soon as six weeks.
cnbc.com
Anthropic unveils plans for major UK expansion after OpenAI announces first permanent London office
The move follows a U.K. campaign to court the U.S. company following its fallout with the Pentagon.
cnbc.com
ECB keeps markets guessing on rates with two weeks to go, warns of ‘layer cake of shocks’
One policymaker said officials were worried about a "layer cake of shocks."
cnbc.com
New York Fed President Williams worries war will slow growth, aggravate inflation
Williams noted that the conflict has "intensified the uncertainty" around national and local conditions.
cnbc.com
World's biggest chocolate maker issues profit warning as cocoa prices collapse; shares plunge 17%
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut on Thursday lowered its operating profit outlook, citing supply concerns and industry overcapacity.
cnbc.com
UK eases rules for hedge funds in sweeping overhaul of short selling rules
The U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority has overhauled its rules on short-selling.
theguardian.com
News of BBC jobs cuts ‘real concern‘, says UK’s culture secretary
Lisa Nandy says staff have been strongly affected as some express frustration that high-paid presenters and executives likely to be safeThe BBC’s sudden announcement of 2,000 job cuts has had a “very strong effect” on staff, the UK’s culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has said, as employees expressed frustration that highly paid presenters and senior staff would not be the prime targets of the cuts.Nandy, who has been having conversations with BBC staff during discussions about the broadcaster’s charter renewal, is understood to be keen for employees to be involved in making the cost-cutting plan, which will affect as many as 10% of the broadcaster’s 21,000 staff over the next three years. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Kering looks to double profits as it unveils ambitious turnaround plan to revive Gucci
The "ReconKering" strategy announced Thursday includes more than doubling its 2025 recurring operating margin of 11.1%.
cnbc.com
Don't call time on dollar dominance just yet, say analysts as 'petroyuan' call sparks debate
The dollar index, which tracks its performance against a basket of major currencies, fell almost 10% through 2025.
cnbc.com
‘Guns vs. butter’: IMF flags tough trade-offs as governments ramp up defense spending
The International Monetary Fund has raised the alarm over a global “guns versus butter” trade-off as countries ramp up defense spending.
theguardian.com
MSC’s ‘blue tick’ scheme creates illusion of ethically sourced fish, study claims
Sustainability certification by Marine Stewardship Council may be obscuring labour abuses in seafood supply chains, say researchersThe Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which operates a “blue tick” scheme to indicate the sustainability of fish, has been accused of creating an “illusion” of ethical sourcing, after a study reported that widespread labour abuses have taken place on the fishing vessels it approves.One in five vessels where the crew reported abuses to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) over the last five years took place on ships catching seafood certified as sustainable by the MSC, researchers found. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A dollar or two increase is devastating’: US consumers on toll of rising gas prices
Guardian readers describe how their lives have been upended by cost hikes stemming from Trump’s Iran warWith the US and Israel’s war on Iran now in its seventh week, with a fragile ceasefire in place since earlier this month, Americans are continuing to feel the effects at the pump as global fuel prices rise.For several readers who spoke to the Guardian, the impact has forced difficult trade-offs – from accessing essential medicines and groceries to facing the brink of homelessness amid an already rising cost of living. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I don’t go out’: Vermont’s undocumented dairy workers live in fear after immigration raids
A tenfold increase in the number of immigration detentions has compelled many workers to barely leave the farms where they work‘They want to keep denying us our rights’: workers in Vermont’s $5.4bn dairy industry fight for basic labor protectionsLast spring, José Edilberto Molina-Aguilar was resting in his bedroom when a co-worker burst through the front door. Out his window, Molina-Aguilar, a 37-year-old dairy worker from Chiapas, Mexico, caught sight of the olive green uniforms of immigration enforcement officials who later claimed they had pursued a worker on to the farm property.A farm manager told Molina-Aguilar and five of his co-workers at Pleasant Valley Farms, Vermont’s largest dairy, in Berkshire, about three miles from the Canadian border, to come outside. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Channel 4 programming chief Ian Katz to leave after nearly nine years
Exit of former Newsnight editor as chief content officer comes after appointment of new CEO Priya DograChannel 4’s content chief, Ian Katz, who holds responsibility for the broadcaster’s £650m annual programming budget and output, is to leave after almost nine years in the post.Katz, a former senior executive at the Guardian, became the channel’s director of programmes in January 2018 after moving from the BBC where he was editor of Newsnight. Continue reading...
bbc.com
UK economy grew faster than expected in February ahead of Iran war
The economy saw its biggest monthly rise in more than two years just before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
cnbc.com
Iran war sparks 'fundamental energy transition' in Seoul toward renewables: Energy minister
Kim said South Korea will focus on wind and solar power to achieve its goal of reaching 100 gigawatts renewable energy capacity
bbc.com
Things can't go on like this with online safety, Starmer tells tech bosses
It comes as the government continues to consult on whether to ban under-16s from social media in the UK.
cnbc.com
China economic growth accelerates to 5% in first quarter — but Iran war clouds outlook
Beijing had lowered its growth target this year to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal on record going back to the early 1990s.
theguardian.com
UK could face gaps on supermarket shelves by summer if Iran war continues
Ministers drawing up contingency plans for ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ if supply of CO2 is disruptedBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK could face some gaps on supermarket shelves this summer if disruption caused by the Iran war continues, with shortages of carbon dioxide potentially hitting supplies of chicken, pork and fizzy drinks.Government ministers are drawing up contingency plans for a “reasonable worst-case scenario” if the key shipping lane of the strait of Hormuz does not reopen, disrupting supplies of the CO2 required by the food industry. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Wildings in Newport, Wales: the grand department store that became an illicit cannabis farm
For decades, Wildings was the poshest shop in town. But since it closed down in 2019, the storied building has fallen into disrepair and been commandeered as a drug den and a skate park. What happened?I’m standing outside a lift in a department store in Newport, Wales, looking at the sign, wondering where to go. Stay on the ground floor for shoes, giftware and presents, ladies’ accessories and Estée Lauder? Or up to the first floor for furniture and ladies’ fashions – Annabelle, Tigi-Wear, Autonomy? It’s the second floor for cookshop and homeware. Lingerie is on three, plus Alfred’s coffee shop and tea room. Maybe I’ll go straight there for a cappuccino and a ponder …But nothing happens when I press the button. The panel is hanging from the wall by its wires and doesn’t look safe. I’d be nervous about stepping into this lift. Plus, it’s dark. I’m using the torch on my phone to read the sign. There’s no giftware on this floor, no presents, no cosmetics counter. Once, this floor would have smelled of perfume; now, it’s musty, cold and empty. Because, on 19 January 2019, after 144 years of trading, this department store, Wildings, closed its doors for ever. Continue reading...
bbc.com
More big energy users to get help as support plan expanded
A scheme to cut bills for firms that are heavy energy users is being extended to cover an additional 3,000 businesses.
cnbc.com
Hong Kong to announce tax break to lure global commodity traders
Hong Kong is rolling out a new tax break for commodity traders as it seeks to strengthen its position as a regional trading hub and revive shipping activity amid global supply disruptions.
theguardian.com
AI is destroying jobs – and the energy crisis could make that much worse | Larry Elliott
Every wave of new tech has come with a doomsday scenario. But governments just aren’t planning a human response on the scale required The transition to a world of artificial intelligence has given a whole new meaning to the concept that capitalism can only renew itself through creative destruction. This is the idea that clapped-out technologies have to be replaced by new ways of doing things, even though the process can be brutal.That has been the way of things for every new wave of inventions since the dawn of the industrial age in the mid-18th century, but with machines now displaying cognitive skills, able to both think and learn, the potential for economic disruption is all the greater.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran war drags India’s goods exports 7% lower in March — more pain ahead
Iran war cuts India’s March goods exports by over 7%, hammering key sectors and markets, lifting costs and delaying recovery for months.
theguardian.com
UK economy showed surprise 0.5% growth before Iran war
ONS figure for February suggests Britain was gaining momentum before conflict dashed hopes of recoveryUK GDP expanded by a stronger than expected 0.5% in February, official figures show, suggesting the economy was gaining momentum before the onset of war in the Middle East dashed hopes of recovery.The jump, reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), was significantly bigger than the 0.1% forecast by economists. January’s flatlining figure was also revised up, to 0.1% growth. Continue reading...
bbc.com
China's economy grows faster than expected despite Iran war
The better-than-expected GDP data comes as Asian countries have been hit hard by the impact of the conflict.
theguardian.com
Ticket to ride? Fifa premium makes this the World Cup that actively hates you | Jonathan Liew
The $95 bus trip to Foxborough highlights a tournament unique in modern times – one that ultimately makes no secret of its disdain for the paying publicLike any journalist with an unerring nose for an offbeat feature, my interest was sharply piqued by this week’s announcement of the $95 bus ride. What magnificent accoutrements might conceivably justify the £70 fare for a half-hour journey from south Boston to Foxborough? An at-seat shiatsu? A pool deck? A five-course dining experience? A brief but moving Céline Dion set in the aisles? At the very least, I felt I owed it to my profession to find out for sure.Alas upon closer investigation, the Boston Stadium Express being launched for this summer’s World Cup appears to be an entirely regular bus journey on an entirely regular bus with entirely regular bus seats. Your non-refundable ticket – no child concessions – entitles you simply to be dropped off a 15-minute walk from the ground, and picked up again from the same place. There is, in short, no more complex rationale for the Boston organising committee to charge £70 than the fact that they can, and the World Cup only comes once, and if you don’t want to pay then some other rube will. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UK economy grew 0.5% in February, beating economists' expectations by a long shot
Economists polled by Reuters expected U.K. gross domestic product (GDP) to have expanded by 0.1% month-on-month.
cnbc.com
Trump says Israel and Lebanon leaders to hold talks after first high-level meeting in decades
The U.S. president said he was "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon."
bbc.com
Big energy shock will push up prices, Bank boss tells BBC
Bank of England governor says the Iran war energy shock makes the next interest rate decision "very, very difficult".
theguardian.com
CEO of bitcoin firm championed by Nigel Farage leaves company
Resignation announced of Jai Patel, whose liquidated crypto firm was relaunched as Stack BTC this yearThe chief executive of a bitcoin company promoted by Nigel Farage has left his role as the venture attempts to convince investors that it is going to deliver “long-term value” for shareholders.Stack BTC was launched to much fanfare in March this year, with Farage and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng becoming some of its first shareholders. The company says its founder is Paul Withers, a friend of the Reform UK leader who owns a gold bullion company that Farage has also promoted, Direct Bullion. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Small towns are powering e-commerce's fastest-growing market, dominated by Amazon, Walmart unit
Small towns are fueling India’s e‑commerce surge, with Amazon and Flipkart chasing new shoppers, faster delivery and rising aspirational demand.
bbc.com
Fake damage and imaginary watches - how AI images are being used in insurance scams
An insurer reports a 71% rise in fraudulent claims, driven partly by an increase in faked images.
theguardian.com
Private rents in Great Britain stop rising for first time since 2017
More landlords having to cut prices to secure tenants, Rightmove data showsAverage private rents have stopped rising in Great Britain after almost a decade of increases, as more landlords cut their prices to secure a tenant, data shows.The typical advertised private rent outside London for properties coming on to the market remained flat at £1,370 a calendar month in the first three months of 2026, according to the property website Rightmove. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The price of school prom is extortionate, says teen
A parent and ex-pupil says proms put pressure on children and adults alike.
bbc.com
Japan pledges $10bn to help Asian countries deal with oil crisis
The aid is roughly equivalent to a year's worth of crude oil imports by Asean countries.
bbc.com
'Unprecedented' fire at Australian oil refinery to affect nation's petrol supplies
The fire has deepened fears over the nation's petrol supplies amid a global crunch.
theguardian.com
How South Korea plans to use the Iran crisis to spur a renewables revolution
Energy crisis unfolding in Middle East has added political urgency, and more funding, to transform South Korea’s solar industryIn Guyang-ri, a farming village of 70 households about 90 minutes south-east of Seoul, people gather for communal free lunches six days a week. The meals are funded by the village’s one-megawatt solar installation, which generates roughly 10m won ($6,800) in net profit each month.“Residents eat lunch together every day, so we see each other’s faces, talk together,” says Jeon Joo-young, the village chief. “Bonds and solidarity between residents become much stronger. Life becomes more enjoyable.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Allbirds shares soar 580% after pivot from shoes to AI
The company is selling off its shoe brand as it plans to shift to providing technology infrastructure.
bbc.com
Trump threatens to fire Fed chair Powell if he doesn't leave in May
Donald Trump's threat marks the latest escalation in his ongoing spat with Jerome Powell.
theguardian.com
Geelong fire: major blaze breaks out at Australia's Viva oil refinery – video
Video shows an explosive fire at a Geelong oil refinery, which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of Australia's. The blaze at Viva Energy's Corio facility in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, started just after 11pm WednesdayGeelong fire: fuel supply fears over out-of-control blaze at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries Continue reading...
bbc.com
Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
theguardian.com
Drax claimed record £999m in subsidies for burning trees in 2025, thinktank says
Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainablyThe owner of the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire received record subsidies of almost £1bn for burning trees to generate electricity in 2025, a climate thinktank has calculated.The company was paid £999m last year for generating about 4.5% of Great Britain’s electricity from its biomass plant, costing each household £13 a year, according to analysts at Ember. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Horse urine perfume: Why online bargains may be dangerous
Experts warn of hidden risk of counterfeits, while the government consults on stricter product safety rules.
bbc.com
Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans, jury finds
The lawsuit said the firm's practices had led to higher ticket prices and worse service for customers.
cnbc.com
Struggling shoe retailer Allbirds makes bizarre pivot to AI, adds $127 million in value
Allbirds announced a deal with American Exchange Group to sell its intellectual property and other assets for $39 million in March.
theguardian.com
Shares in Allbirds surge after maker of wool sneakers announces pivot to AI
Rebrand as NewBird AI sent shares up 582% in bizarre and rapid turnaround for firm that had fallen on hard timesAllbirds, the maker of minimalist wool sneakers beloved by Silicon Valley, announced on Wednesday that it is leaving shoes behind and pivoting to artificial intelligence. The new focus and rebrand as “NewBird AI” sent the company’s stock up 582% as of mid-day during a flurry of trading.The surging stock price and new direction is a bizarre, rapid turnaround for a company that had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Once valued at $4bn, Allbirds’ shares had lost 99% of their worth since 2021 and earlier this month the company announced plans for a $39m sale to brand management firm American Exchange Company. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Live Nation and Ticketmaster had monopoly over big venues, US jury finds
Verdict in states’ case says concert giant stifled competition in ticketing industry, raising pressure for changesThe concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary has a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, a Manhattan federal jury has found, dealing the company a loss in a lawsuit over claims brought by dozens of US states.The jury deliberated for four days before reaching its decision on Wednesday in the closely watched case, which helped peel back the curtain on a business that dominates live entertainment across much of the world. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How you could get free electricity for doing your washing
You could get free or cheaper electricity from your energy company for running appliances during periods of excess supply, such as sunny weekends.
bbc.com
US war on Iran was a 'mistake', says Reeves
The chancellor's criticism follows a report that the conflict will hit the UK harder than other big economies.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the looming energy shock: ministers need to show they have a plan | Editorial
Keir Starmer can’t be blamed for the crisis in the Middle East, but he has to reassure people that he is prepared for its long-term consequencesPublic reassurance is one of the first duties of the government in difficult times. The early months of the Covid pandemic offer a case study in how to get this wrong. Boris Johnson was paralysed by indecision and denial of the severity of what was unfolding. Panic-buying cleared supermarket shelves of essential goods.Sir Keir Starmer is unlike Mr Johnson in temperament and work ethic, but he too is struggling to get ahead of events in a global crisis. It isn’t easy when the origin of turbulence is a superpower gone rogue. Donald Trump’s impulsive actions can’t be anticipated with epidemiological precision like a virus.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Government’s 1.5m housebuilding target in England is suffering from subsidence | Nils Pratley
As the country’s biggest housebuilder cuts land buying and the Iran war pushes up costs, setting such an ambitious figure appears even more foolishThis is what the government didn’t want to hear when its target to build 1.5m homes in England during this parliament already looked out of reach. The country’s biggest housebuilder is trimming its purchases of new land because the Iran war has created “a less certain backdrop”.Barratt Redrow’s “disciplined approach” isn’t a downing of tools, it should be said. The company had previously expected to buy between 10,000 and 12,000 plots; now it will acquire between 7,000 and 9,000. In money terms, it equates to about £100m less from a £800m-£900m budget. It is a scaling-back, as opposed to the outright halt to buying new land that the London-focused Berkeley Group announced a couple of weeks ago. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Snapchat owner cuts 1,000 jobs as says AI will reduce repetitive work
The Snapchat owner is laying off around 16% of staff and withdrawn hundreds of open job roles.
theguardian.com
The IMF refuses to name the cause of this global chaos. It starts with ‘Donald’ and ends in ‘Trump’ | Greg Jericho
The International Monetary Fund remains stuck in a situation where the biggest concern about inflation is wagesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook has forced it to admit that things have changed since its previous update in January when it blissfully hoped things would be OK. Now there is mostly darkness and despair.The IMF’s January report was titled Steady amid Divergent Forces; whereas the latest outlook is headlined Global Economy in the Shadow of War and begins: “The global outlook has abruptly darkened following the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, 2026.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How the US-Israel war on Iran is affecting African economies
For some, the impact is already being felt but others remain in limbo over their energy security and are hostage to an unlikely de-escalation• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIt remains a confusing situation, but the strait of Hormuz now appears to have been closed twice. Once by Iran, and then by the US, which this week announced a blockade of its own on the reduced number of ships using Iranian ports. Higher fuel and energy costs for ordinary people across the world are the headlines, but as the war on Iran enters its sixth week, shipping restrictions and strikes on energy facilities in Gulf countries are affecting some of the poorest and most vulnerable economies in the world in more profound ways.I spoke to Dr. Zainab Usman, senior research scholar at the Centre on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, about how the war and its blockades are affecting some African countries. Continue reading...
bbc.com
AA and BSM ordered to refund learner drivers for hidden fees
The owner of the driving schools has been fined for failing to disclose fees upfront online.
theguardian.com
‘Field of Dreams stuff’: will Leeds finally get its trams after decades of promises?
Plans for return of such transport have been discussed for years, and not all local people believe that service will comeIt is 1993 and a young James Lewis is going to do work experience in Leeds city council’s highways department. His team, Leeds United FC, have only just relinquished the title of defending English champions. And the council is marching on with big ideas: putting the abandoned 1980s Metroline tram plan behind them, and forgetting the unloved 1991 concept of a Leeds Advanced Transit skytrain. The Supertram is the coming thing.“I remember these drawers and drawers, full of big paper plans,” says Lewis, 33 years on. Lewis is now leader of the city council, and it is all done online. Much of the city centre has been transformed, rebuilt and pedestrianised. Leeds United have never threatened to be champions again. But as Lewis stands outside Elland Road stadium, explaining how to cross the adjacent motorway, one thing has not changed. What Leeds really wants is to build a tram. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Expert tips on borrowing cash, from everyday spending to £20k loans
There are many options, from cards to buy now, pay later. We find out the best – and the effect on your credit scoreUntil recently, if you wanted to buy something you couldn’t afford upfront, you reached for a credit card or took out a loan. Now, when you get to the checkout, you are likely to be faced with other options, including buy now, pay later (BNPL).With so many ways to borrow, the true costs and complexities aren’t always clear. Which option will actually save you the most money in the long run? And how might each option affect your credit score? We spoke to financial experts to get some answers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
IMF says strait of Hormuz closure raises prospect of ‘major energy crisis’ – video
The International Monetary Fund is forecasting a range of possible global economic scenarios due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. IMF’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, says: ‘Our adverse scenario assumes further disruption, leading to higher energy prices and inflation expectations, and tighter financial conditions throughout the year … Our severe scenario assumes that energy supply disruptions extend into next year with greater macro instability’IMF warns ‘unprecedented’ energy crisis could trigger global recession as Australia prepares for Washington talks Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is the EU back in vogue? – podcast
Lisa O’Carroll reports on the ‘resetting’ of the relationship between the UK and the EUThis week, the Guardian reported that Labour is planning to bring in new legislation that will forge closer ties between the UK and the EU. Nearly 10 years on from the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s senior correspondent Lisa O’Carroll speaks to Helen Pidd about what a UK-EU reset would look like.Lisa and Helen also discuss the strength of the EU in the wake of Viktor Orbán’s defeat in the Hungary elections on Sunday. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Help to Buy mostly helped high earners, IFS says
People with lower incomes benefitted less from the house-buying scheme than those with high incomes, the influential think tank says.
theguardian.com
Higher-income households benefited most from Help to Buy, thinktank finds
Analysis by IFS shows George Osborne’s mortgage schemes launched in 2013 had little effect on social mobilityHigher-income households were the biggest beneficiaries of George Osborne’s Help to Buy mortgage schemes, introduced in the 2010s, according to an analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank.Launched by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2013, Help to Buy involved two separate schemes aimed at making home ownership more achievable in a period of rapid house price growth. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Bit of pain' worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC
US Treasury Secretary said a "small bit of economic pain" was worth it to eliminate the threat of Iranian strikes on Western capitals.
theguardian.com
Bosses say AI boosts productivity – workers say they’re drowning in ‘workslop’
Workslop refers to AI-generated work that seems polished but is flawed and in need of heavy correctionsKen, a copywriter for a large, Miami-based cybersecurity firm, used to enjoy his job. But then the “workslop” started piling up.Workslop is an unintended consequence of the AI boom. It’s what happens when employees use AI to quickly generate work that seems polished – at least superficially – but is in fact so flawed or inaccurate that it needs to be heavily corrected, cleaned up or even completely redone after it’s passed on to colleagues. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Surrounded by windfarms but out of work: the reality of the green jobs boom on England’s east coast
The government hails the ‘green revolution’ as a solution to economic decline, but some young jobseekers say the rhetoric does not match their experienceOn paper, Jake Snell, 19, sounds like the perfect candidate for a role in the UK’s burgeoning green energy sector. He has high grades in maths and physics A-level, a distinction in BTec engineering and another distinction in an extended engineering diploma. He has also done work experience at an engineering company.He is from Lowestoft, a coastal town in Suffolk, outside Great Yarmouth. Both towns contain areas that fall within the most deprived 20% in England and are part of a wider pattern of coastal places with low employment opportunities. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
British Gas sent me a £571 bill for a flat I’ve never owned or lived in
Now I’m being threatened with debt collectors because I don’t have a tenancy agreement or a mortgageBritish Gas opened an account in my name for an address that I have never occupied, and sent me a £571 bill. It declined to open a complaint because I “refused” to provide a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement which, since I’ve long since paid off my mortgage, I don’t have. It is now threatening me with a debt collection agency. IW, Northampton Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Helium: the invisible gas that powers AI, and why it’s in short supply – podcast
Alongside the oil and gas stranded in the strait of Hormuz is another commodity vital to today’s economy: helium. It is a critical element in all kinds of areas from MRI machines to the Large Hadron Collider, and even deep-sea diving. It is also integral to the AI boom. And this isn’t the first time its fragile global supply chain has been threatened. So why is helium so useful, and what will happen if the shortage continues? Ian Sample hears from co-host Madeleine Finlay, and from Sophia Hayes, professor of chemistry at Washington University in St. LouisClips: CBCSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
bbc.com
Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
bbc.com
US drivers head to Native American lands for cheaper gas
Some of the cheapest fuel in the country can be found on tribal land due to tax exemptions.
theguardian.com
The US small town coffee shop that created a viral drink: ‘I still don’t understand how it went so far’
The raspberry danish latte is making its way around the world after its inventors decided to share the recipeGive banana coffee a chance. How to make the viral (and delicious) Korean treatA viral coffee drink created by a little college town coffee shop on the outskirts of Minneapolis is now making its way around the world after its inventors decided to give the recipe away for free.After Little Joy Coffee’s raspberry danish latte, a spring seasonal drink, went viral in March, the shop’s owners decided to encourage coffee shops to rip off the recipe directly and add it to their menus. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tory ex-chancellor Jeremy Hunt proposes ‘social tariff’ to help less well-off with energy bills
Resolution Foundation backs plan to offset rising costs from Iran war likely to leave households £480 poorerThe former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt has proposed a “social tariff” to help Britons cope with rising energy costs amid the Iran war, as a thinktank calculated that households will be nearly £500 worse off this year.The Resolution Foundation said households faced rising costs from higher gas and electricity bills and at the petrol pump. The thinktank urged ministers to accelerate work on a social tariff before winter, when energy costs will hit hardest, to offer targeted support to lower-income households. It has estimated the cost at £3.7bn. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
bbc.com
'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
bbc.com
TV for dogs booms but are they watching?
TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.
bbc.com
The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison
Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.
bbc.com
What do businesses want ahead of the election?
Shops, cafes and restaurants in Cardigan say increasing costs and low footfall are making it harder.
bbc.com
The US refinery now processing Venezuelan oil
Chevron is now importing 250,000 barrels of crude per day from Venezuela.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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